When you read about robots, you have Capek to thank. He’s the one who first came up with that word for a separate group of manufactured people (automaWhen you read about robots, you have Capek to thank. He’s the one who first came up with that word for a separate group of manufactured people (automatons?) who carry out work around the house, in factories and in the fields, subservient to the needs of humans. He’s the first one who posited how they might rise up, and declare themselves as people too. It’s a shortish play, and one which I don’t always quite get — what’s with the men all falling in love with the one female character? Why do the characters act the way they do?
But it is fascinating to come back to one of the places where it all started, and it was worth the read to see where some of the themes and preoccupations of later science fiction originated.
I don’t think there’s much I have to say about this that hasn’t been said. Like, gee, did you know Wilde was really witty and satirical? I know, it shI don’t think there’s much I have to say about this that hasn’t been said. Like, gee, did you know Wilde was really witty and satirical? I know, it shocked me too… But in all seriousness, even reading this rather than seeing it performed, it has a wonderful flow and wit, and it’s really funny. I don’t normally have much patience with plays, because they’re so much flatter on the page, and you don’t get the fun of watching actors/directors interpreting them, but I really enjoyed this anyway.
And yes, yes, I know; it’s disgraceful I have two English Lit degrees and this is the first time I’ve ever read The Importance of Being Earnest. I can only say that Wilde was a bit too recent for me…
This is amusing as a quick read; I'm contemplating who might enjoy it as a quirky Christmas gift. It'd have to be someone who can appreciate the ridicThis is amusing as a quick read; I'm contemplating who might enjoy it as a quirky Christmas gift. It'd have to be someone who can appreciate the ridiculous literary touches (like R2D2 beeping in iambic pentameter), and who is a pretty big fan of both Star Wars and Shakespeare, I think. I'm not really enough of a fan of either to truly appreciate this.
I can also imagine that you could be too much of a fan of Shakespeare (or Star Wars) to appreciate this. It's best taken lightly.
Definitely a gift for a geek, anyway. As someone approaching it casually, I could appreciate the ideas and the way some of the lines were rendered, but then the joke wore thin....more
Not very impressed by this. It's an interesting sort of concept -- a bit like a fictionalised "overheard in New York" (or wherever), but the selectionNot very impressed by this. It's an interesting sort of concept -- a bit like a fictionalised "overheard in New York" (or wherever), but the selection of which 'plays' to put in was very... unexciting. They do reveal a lot of the prejudices that still exist in Britain -- some readers may feel uncomfortable, seeing themselves exposed, but to be honest I think most of the readers will be more the types who can shake their heads knowingly, believing they don't ever act with prejudice.
I could've predicted the way each of them went, even the ridiculous ones; in a way, that suggests that the observations are 'accurate', if you can use that word of these anecdotes. Still, they also felt very artificial....more
I'm not sure if Dryden's rewrite/butchery of Troilus and Cressida is actually included in the various works of John Dryden, but it's as good a place aI'm not sure if Dryden's rewrite/butchery of Troilus and Cressida is actually included in the various works of John Dryden, but it's as good a place as any to record that I reread his version again. As I've said before, if you're looking for literary genius, just go back to Shakespeare and Chaucer. But Dryden's version is interesting. A line-by-line comparison would be interesting, to see where he changed and softened the lines of Shakespeare, and where he felt more was needed. It's kind of a more emotionally satisfying story, in a way -- but on the other hand, we didn't need another Romeo and Juliet....more
Rereading again. I think I like it more each time I reread it, though I would like to stop having to right about now. Again, this time I read for the Rereading again. I think I like it more each time I reread it, though I would like to stop having to right about now. Again, this time I read for the character of Cressida, and skipped most of the rest. Mostly I noticed that I didn't have that much to read; Chaucer and Dryden both give her a much bigger part. And yet I still don't quite know what to do with her: she's much more brazen than Chaucer's Criseyde, but aren't her fears valid? Troilus does treat her less well once he's had her....more
Read Dryden's rewrite of Troilus and Cressida. From the point of view of art, just read Shakespeare's, for goodness sake. Still, it's interesting to sRead Dryden's rewrite of Troilus and Cressida. From the point of view of art, just read Shakespeare's, for goodness sake. Still, it's interesting to see how Dryden feels he needs to change the story -- Cressida's motivations are revealed and there's an altogether more Romeo & Juliet ending -- by which I mean, an ending which we instinctively recognise as tragic. He cuts away all the ambiguities of Shakespeare's work. I... might actually write my essay on this. It's not so much interesting in itself -- the best parts are all Shakespeare's anyway -- but what Dryden does, and more importantly, why, is....more
I've always been interested in Sophocles' works -- which is good, since I studied Oedipus for both GCSE and A Level Classics; I more or less had to liI've always been interested in Sophocles' works -- which is good, since I studied Oedipus for both GCSE and A Level Classics; I more or less had to like it -- and I was intrigued when I saw that Seamus Heaney had done a 'translation'. This is less of a translation and more of a version: I wouldn't use it for scholarly study of the play itself, though it would be interesting in studying modern rewritings and retellings of ancient myths. He keeps the play format, and some of it is really, really good poetry, though it threw me off that as usual with Heaney, there was a lot of colloquial language. I'm used to the play in a quite formal, conservative translation, which doesn't help.
It'd be a bit of a shock to an unsuspecting Classics student, I'm sure, but it's also a very lively and interesting read. I'm not sure what I think about this trend of 'updating' the classics to make them more readable for a modern audience, but Heaney does it well....more
Interesting collection, attempting to redress the balance of gender in writing about the Arthurian legends -- or the perceived balance of gender, anywInteresting collection, attempting to redress the balance of gender in writing about the Arthurian legends -- or the perceived balance of gender, anyway. It's a good collection, ranging from medieval writing to modern, and covering poetry, plays and prose. Some of it was already familiar to me (Marie de France, Sara Teasdale, Edna St. Vincent Millay), but quite a few of the stories and poems were new. Worth picking up, if the idea catches your interest....more
Ordinarily I wouldn't reread a book or play, even one I read for class, so soon after reading it for the first time, but with Shakespeare (and indeed Ordinarily I wouldn't reread a book or play, even one I read for class, so soon after reading it for the first time, but with Shakespeare (and indeed Chaucer) I think it's necessary. Plus, this edition came with notes, which are very extensive and -- even though I need no help with the language in general -- help to shed light on puns, double entendres, and potential confused transmission of the plays, etc. It has an extensive introduction which covers a lot of different aspects of the play, too.
I was reading this time specifically for Cressida's character, and for the play's relationship to Chaucer's version. She's at once more brazen -- deliberately stating that she's holding out on Troilus, because he won't want her as much once he's won her -- and more pitiable in the conclusion, in her pathetic little fight with Diomede over the belt. She came alive for me in that scene, in her pleading.
I noticed, though, that this is much less involved with the couple than Chaucer's version. There's whole sections set in the Greek camp, which you don't see in Chaucer. Shakespeare's more interested in the war as a whole than Chaucer, it seems -- or maybe the war as a whole sheds light on Troilus and Cressida? I wonder. The repeated references to Helen and her falseness do throw a shadow over Cressida....more
It's very tempting to make this review simply, "It's Shakespeare. What do you expect?"
I'm really glad I never had to study The Tempest. I've never beeIt's very tempting to make this review simply, "It's Shakespeare. What do you expect?"
I'm really glad I never had to study The Tempest. I've never been able to appreciate Shakespeare (or Chaucer, for that matter) when he was shoved down my throat for a course. I'm glad that I could randomly decide to pick it up on a Saturday morning, with a background of Loreena McKennitt's beautiful Prospero's Speech. Aside from seeing them performed live, I think coming to Shakespeare's plays of your own accord is the best way to experience them, when you don't have to read them looking for themes and whatnot. You can just appreciate the fine language and the skill with which he arranges his scenes.
I already knew the epilogue well (from the aforementioned song), so it might be cheating to call that my favourite part. So I'll say Ariel is my favourite bit....more
After a quick glance at the play script, I have to say I think this might well be better than the book and the film. With effective acting and an audiAfter a quick glance at the play script, I have to say I think this might well be better than the book and the film. With effective acting and an audience willing to suspend their disbelief and participate in the illusions, it must be amazing. I can't say I'd like to go and see it -- I'm a wuss at heart....more
This is the last text, chronologically, in the class I read it for, but it was the easiest to get hold of. I actually read a version with no notes or This is the last text, chronologically, in the class I read it for, but it was the easiest to get hold of. I actually read a version with no notes or glosses, so it'll probably be interesting to go through an annotated version. Obviously I was aware of the story on the Trojan War -- unavoidable when you take Classics for GCSE and A Level -- but I didn't know much about this one.
People are right to categorise this as a 'problem play'. It generally doesn't work to try and put things into hard and fast categories -- just look at the problems with Anglo-Saxon elegies/lyric poems -- but it can be useful. But this one defies all the categories: comedy? Tragedy? History...? None of that seems quite right.
It's Shakespeare, though, so it's bound to be worth reading. I'm looking forward to meeting Shakespeare's sources, and getting to know them better. (I am generally against studying Shakespeare and Chaucer, in my own work, as I feel they're... overdone. Maybe even over stressed, though it's hard to overestimate Shakespeare's impact. Still, I'm very excited about this module.)...more
A radio 'feature', rather than a play, according to the introduction to my edition, Under Milk Wood is amazing. It's full of lively, unique descriptioA radio 'feature', rather than a play, according to the introduction to my edition, Under Milk Wood is amazing. It's full of lively, unique description, a rapidfire sketch of village life. I can't even pick out a part I like best because all of it is vivacious and interesting. The description, on the first page, for just one example, of the night, 'starless and bible-black'. Dylan Thomas knew what he was doing when it came to language, at all times, and it shows.
The introduction to this edition, by Walford Davies, is a very good one, giving an idea of the background of the story, context to explain what's going on, bits about Dylan's writing process... And the back is full of explanatory notes.
A quick read. Likely to reward rereading richly, I'd say....more
Fourth book of the readathon. Read in snatches during a car journey and between acts in a concert! Which is probably not the best way to experience ShFourth book of the readathon. Read in snatches during a car journey and between acts in a concert! Which is probably not the best way to experience Shakespeare, laying aside the issue that I think the best way to experience it is by watching it, but I enjoyed it. I've always rather liked Cordelia, with her steadfast truthfulness, and I do remember some very vivid mental images regarding eyes being put out when, at the age of nine, I read a children's version of the story.
And of course, Shakespeare's use of language, his sense of timing, his grasp of what will look good on stage -- that's as expected: he was a master....more
I actually found Othello one of the easiest of Shakespeare's plays to read. I knew the basic plot, which probably helped -- when reading the historiesI actually found Othello one of the easiest of Shakespeare's plays to read. I knew the basic plot, which probably helped -- when reading the histories like Henry V, I wasn't always sure what was going to happen -- but just in general I found it by far the easiest to follow. And very real: I actually know someone who was as easily lead as astray as Othello, about someone almost as blameless as Desdemona... luckily, it didn't end as badly as this play!
I really enjoyed this, anyway -- I'm really glad I never had it ruined by having to study it too much. (Alas for Romeo and Juliet, which -- for me -- suffered that fate.)...more
I think everyone knows parts of this play: "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears." The first part of it is maybe not so well known, but I thI think everyone knows parts of this play: "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears." The first part of it is maybe not so well known, but I think most people know something of Mark Antony's speech after Caesar's death. I think this might be my favourite Shakespeare play so far -- possibly partly due to already loving to read about Caesar, but also because of the strength of the rhetoric in it.
I have actually seen parts of this performed -- the speech I referred to, actually -- and when I'd read it, I looked on youtube for performances of my favourite parts. I'd go see this play in a heartbeat.
So, anyone remember why I disliked Shakespeare before...? I do wish schools wouldn't shove Romeo and Juliet down people's throats: it's far from my favourite....more
There: you can all stop nagging me, I've finally read it. The plot was mostly as expected, though I think whatever version I read as a child was less There: you can all stop nagging me, I've finally read it. The plot was mostly as expected, though I think whatever version I read as a child was less kind to Ophelia, as I had a rather different image of her in mind. I had a whole book of Shakespeare retellings, now I think about it: I can't really remember many of them, but I suppose they haunt me a little in my vague ideas of what the plays are like before I read them...
Anyway, Hamlet: justly famous, and full of phrases and quotations that even people who've never read a Shakespeare play can quote. It's always interesting coming to those in situ at last.
Still terribly glad I don't have to study Shakespeare now. If I end up somehow forced to read Shakespeare in my MA, I may scream. Much happier to come to his plays now, in my own good time....more
I didn't like Antony and Cleopatra very much at the beginning -- but then, it always seems to take about an act for me to get into the swing of a ShakI didn't like Antony and Cleopatra very much at the beginning -- but then, it always seems to take about an act for me to get into the swing of a Shakespeare play. It helps with Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra that I'm familiar with the history it's based on. It took me a while to warm to the characters of Antony and Cleopatra, though, but for all that there's something very human about the way Cleopatra reacts to Antony -- now this, now that -- and how he responds to her.
There are, of course, some beautiful speeches and descriptions here: I was nudged into reading this by reading a reference just yesterday to Cleopatra burning upon the water. I don't think I've seen this one as often quoted as I have the other Shakespeare plays I've been reading lately, though......more
I read Macbeth when I was younger -- year seven or so -- and watched some kind of adaptation of it made for TV. I didn't remember it well enough to doI read Macbeth when I was younger -- year seven or so -- and watched some kind of adaptation of it made for TV. I didn't remember it well enough to do any kind of review (and Shakespeare is usually too recent for me, and irrelevant for my purposes, since he never touched on the Matter of Britain). Anyway, I had a long car journey today, and a pound or two left of a gift certificate, so I bought myself Macbeth and Hamlet for my Kindle.
I still don't like reading plays, but it is funny when reading Shakespeare's plays to realise how often they're quoted by everyone, often by people who don't know what they're quoting. My cousin quoted Shakespeare at dinner today: I'm not sure he's ever read a book in his life.
Macbeth is a powerful play, even just in text, and I wish I could see it performed. ...more
